It would seem that the concept of the “staycation” has brought prosperity to the Virginia State Park system. The latest numbers from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) shows a record number of campers stayed over one or more nights in state park campgrounds, cabins, and lodges in 2011—a fitting way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the park system.

“Year after year, Virginia State Parks continue to host record numbers of visitors,” according to Virginia DCR State Parks Director Joe Elton. Overall attendance in 2011 was the second highest in park system history with 7,836,246 visitors, down slightly from the record-high attendance of 8,065,558 in 2010. When you consider the fact that hurricanes and tornados temporarily closed several parks during the peak 2011 season last year’s total attendance could have been a record, as well.

Camping has evolved from the early days of “roughing it in the great outdoors” to include a large variety of accommodations. Everything from tents to pop-up campers to half-million dollar luxury motor homes and campers of all levels can find the amenities they seek within the Virginia’s State Parks system. Twenty four of the 35 parks offer camping facilities and 16 offer climate controlled lodging such as cabins, lodges and yurts.

Most of our state parks are located in rural areas and make a major economic contribution to the surrounding community. According to Elton, parks generate $10 for the local economy for every dollar of general fund money spent on the park. They also provide a permanent habitat for wildlife, unthreatened by the possibility of development. Some parks offer outdoor-oriented courses in everything from photography, arts and crafts, bird watching and environmentalism to survival and hunting skills; usually employing local experts to teach the classes.

From ocean beaches at First Landing and Kiptopeke, tidal environments at Westmoreland and Belle Isle, freshwater lakes at Holiday Isle and Lake Anna, riverbanks at James River and Staunton River to the mountain forests of Grayson Highlands and Breaks Interstate Park, which shares territory with Kentucky and boasts a 1650 foot deep gorge known as the “Grand Canyon of the South,” all of Virginia’s various natural habitats are represented by Virginia’s State Parks.

As a general rule DCR State Parks open on March 1. When it comes to camping and lodging reservations are needed and it’s wise to make them as far in advance as possible. You can obtain all the information you’ll need at the DCR/State Parks website, http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/index.shtml.